It's just a simulation game, how did the fairy become real?

"Huh? There are actually options now?"

Su Chen looked at the options with a puzzled expression. The game hadn't presented many options so far, and each one meant there might be a turning point.

Different choices will lead to different endings.

Come back home?

Go back to that damn house!

play!

Choose 3!

You finally couldn't resist the urge to go down the mountain; you'd rather have some fun than go home.

Brothels and entertainment venues, hehe!

[But after descending the mountain, you suddenly realize that the world is not quite what you imagined.]

You spent the first ten years of your life in the capital. While not extravagantly luxurious, your clothing, food, housing, and transportation were all things only the wealthy could afford.

[In the five years that followed, Zhongnan Mountain was frequently visited by pilgrims. The area below the mountain wasn't particularly prosperous, but at least people had enough to eat and wear.]

On your way back, the people you encounter are like duckweed in the wind, their lives as insignificant as ants.

[It was common for people to be hungry and poorly clothed.]

At first, you were willing to help a few, but as you went further, you realized that it was beyond your power to save these ordinary people.

[The potter has exhausted all the soil in front of his door, yet not a single tile graces his roof. His ten fingers never touch the mud, yet he lives in a grand mansion.]

This is an injustice in the world.

It's a man-made disaster!

[Not a natural disaster!]

As Su Chen looked at these lines of text, vivid scenes appeared before him.

While the rich wine and meat smell, the road with frozen bone.

This sentence becomes incredibly concrete.

The powerful families' control over the region far exceeded Su Chen's expectations.

Powerful and influential families have made it an unspoken rule for them to exploit and oppress the common people!

In the game, the Empress is only ten years old and has no way to deal with her.

It's likely that even this empress is under the control of powerful families.

You know full well that with your own strength, you can hardly change the situation.

Unable to bear it any longer, you quickened your pace home.

The capital city, though only a hundred li in circumference, presents a world of difference.

The bustling metropolis of the capital city makes it hard to believe that everything you've seen before is real.

If I hadn't gone down the mountain and returned home, I might never have known the true situation outside.

Perhaps it was because you hadn't been home for so long, you felt a bit apprehensive about returning to your hometown. Upon entering the capital, you didn't immediately return to the Pei residence, but instead wandered around this vast city.

This is still the capital city of my memories, yet it is no longer the capital city of my memories.

The city remains prosperous, but in its corners, a sense of decay lingers, and groups of beggars hide in every nook and cranny of the capital.

[Having been away for five years, it seems quite a few things have happened in the capital...]

Chapter 2 Little girl, shall I take you home?

Jiang Li, dressed in coarse cloth, disguised herself and walked through the bustling city.

This is what she has enjoyed doing most in the past month.

Despite being an empress, she had little freedom and little power.

Like puppets, they are nothing more than toy dolls in this imperial court.

Despite being a member of the royal family, the Jiang clan did very little in the face of threats from powerful clans.

Whether an imperial decree could leave the Hall of Supreme Harmony depended on the attitude of the powerful families.

Jiang Li ascended the throne five years ago, and for her, she was also bound for five years.

Before Jiang Li was five years old, the late emperor had not yet passed away.

The palace is just a larger amusement park.

Now, she increasingly feels that it is a place that devours people.

The old woman walked up to Jiang Li and said, "Miss, it's almost time. We should go back."

There was a stand-in prepared by the Jiang family in the palace, which allowed Jiang Li to take this opportunity to get some fresh air.

But Jiang Li knew in her heart that this substitute was actually sent by a powerful family.

However, she was happy to use it.

"Let's wait a little longer. If we go back now, it will probably take several more days to come out again."

Jiang Li didn't want to go back, but she had no choice.

The powerful families are keeping a close watch on me; staying away from the palace for too long might cause unforeseen changes.

She was trying to turn the stand-in to the other side.

The powerful family is threatening the substitute with their members, and she is already working to rescue her.

The Jiang family is also looking for other substitutes, and given time, leaving the palace long-term will not be a problem.

Jiang Li had heard about the things that aristocratic families did, but she didn't want to leave the capital to see for herself.

But the capital city has changed a lot compared to a few years ago.

Putting everything else aside, when my father was still alive, there were at least no beggars in the capital.

Nowadays, beggars are everywhere in the capital, and some of the more remote alleys have long been occupied by them.

"The aristocratic families deserve to die."

Jiang Li took a deep breath; she had considered making changes.

But government orders are one thing on her desk, another when they leave the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and when they actually reach the hands of the executor, they will take on a completely different form.

There are policies and measures to counter.

If funds are directly allocated, less than a hundred percent will actually be used locally.

What a terrible world has been ruined by powerful families.

The only family that could give her some peace of mind was the Pei family.

However, due to the powerful influence of the aristocratic families, Pei Zhongshu could only offer limited assistance.

For five years, despite Pei Zhongshu's best efforts to mediate, he was still unable to stop the actions of the powerful families.

The Pei family gradually declined in the course of these conflicts.

Of the Pei and Wang families, only Pei Zhongshu remains as a high-ranking official in the imperial court.

The rest are all in unimportant positions.

Jiang Li wanted to promote him, but faced numerous obstacles.

The fastest way to turn the tide in this game might be to overturn the table.

However, the powerful families were too influential, so Jiang Li could only try to deal with them gradually.

If they arouse the suspicion of powerful families and make them feel that they are a threat, they might just switch the prince with a fake one.

A body double is already available.

Is the person sitting on the throne really a king?

Is it important?

Just as Jiang Li was about to leave some money for the little beggar in front of her who was about the same age as her, a tall figure suddenly strode past her.

The other person was tall and straight, like a slender bamboo, with a calm and confident gait. His features were well-defined, his black hair was casually tied up, and his clothes fluttered, exuding an air of freedom.

One glance was enough to leave a deep impression on Jiang Li.

Clang.

The man dropped a few coins into the little beggar's bowl, and left amidst the beggar's thanks.

Jiang Li followed behind the other person with some curiosity, only to find that the other person only gave copper coins and never gave out any silver coins.

Unbeknownst to her, Jiang Li had followed the other person for the entire alley.

It wasn't until the other person turned around and looked at her that Jiang Li realized she had been discovered.

Why won't you give me money?

Jiang Li directly voiced her doubts.

Why give only copper coins when you could have given more?

Wouldn't giving silver help more people?

Pei Yichen initially thought the little girl following behind him was also a beggar, but the confidence she exuded when she spoke made him realize that she was definitely not a beggar.

"It's a crime to have a jade in your possession."

"Giving them too much will only harm them."

"A few copper coins is not much, just enough for them to have a meal or two without attracting attention."

Jiang Li seemed to be deep in thought upon hearing this.

Where do you live? Do you want me to take you home?

Pei Yichen squatted down and looked at Jiang Li in front of him. Although she was dressed in coarse clothes, her skin was fair and smooth, and there was an undeniable air of nobility between her brows. She was probably not from an ordinary family.

Jiang Li shook her head. "No need, I have no home."